Constituency

Liverpool Wavertree

Party
Labour
Region
North West
Official portrait of Paula Barker
MP

Paula Barker

MP's page on parliament.uk

Photo: © House of Commons (CC BY 3.0), cropped

The cost of Brexit · UK-wide

Brexit's estimated hit to UK economic output (GVA) in 2023

−£188.8bn

−7.7% of output

That's about £2,835 for every person in the UK, compared with an estimate of where the economy would have been without Brexit.

Source: Brexit Cost Project (Alabrese, Edenhofer, Fetzer and Wang, 2026), real terms at 2019 prices

What rejoining could mean · UK-wide

Long-term boost to the UK economy (GDP) from EU membership

+£92bn

at least

Plus at least £43bn a year more in UK exports.

Source: Frontier Economics for Best for Britain

What rejoining could mean here

Estimated boost to the North West's economy (GVA) each year from EU membership

+£658m

a year

Source: Frontier Economics

What voters think in Liverpool Wavertree

Which EU relationship people in Liverpool Wavertree most want the UK Government to propose

When they had to choose one

  1. EU membership44.5%, average across GB constituencies 34.3%
  2. Single market6.5%, average across GB constituencies 6.6%
  3. Customs union5.9%, average across GB constituencies 5.3%
  4. UK Government position13.1%, average across GB constituencies 17.4%
  5. Status quo5.5%, average across GB constituencies 8.2%
  6. Loosen ties6.2%, average across GB constituencies 9.7%
  7. Don't know18.3%, average across GB constituencies 18.4%

Support for EU membership here: Joint 31st highest of 631 constituencies

About this survey

YouGov surveyed 11,927 people. The survey was carried out between 27th May – 11th June 2026.

The survey was conducted using an online interview of members of the YouGov Plc GB panel of 400,000+ individuals who have agreed to take part in surveys.

Voices from Liverpool Wavertree

  • I strongly believe that rejoining the European Union would be one of the best decisions the UK could make, not just for our economy, but for the future of our children and communities like Liverpool. As a parent of two children aged 14 and 17, I want them to grow up with opportunities that extend beyond the UK's borders. EU membership would give them the freedom to live, study and work across 27 countries, opening doors to education, careers and experiences that should be available to the next generation. I want them to have choices, ambition and the freedom to build their futures wherever their talents take them. We are a historic port city with strong European connections, a talented workforce and huge potential. Closer ties with the EU could attract investment, create jobs, strengthen local businesses, improve trade and support regeneration. Greater cooperation could also help reduce economic pressures, improve energy security and potentially bring down the cost of everyday goods. I want a Britain that looks outward rather than inward, Rejoining isn't about returning to the past; it's about giving our children and cities like Liverpool a better future.

    john dwyer

    9 November 2026

Which sectors could benefit most from EU membership?

Liverpool Wavertree has:

2,282

people employed in manufacturing, mining and utilities

GB average: 4,334 per constituency

5,858

people employed in retail and wholesale

GB average: 6,882 per constituency

3,184

people employed in accommodation and food services

GB average: 2,447 per constituency

In the top quarter of constituencies
Health

as its biggest employing industry

These figures count people who live in the constituency and work in each industry (Census 2021; in Scotland, Scotland's Census 2022).

Why these jobs matter for our relationship with Europe

These three industries employ people in every constituency, and each depends on how easily goods, services and people move between the UK and Europe.

Manufacturing: Frontier Economics found that 81% of the £43 billion a year growth in exports from EU membership would come from manufacturing.

Retail: Rejoining the EU would remove the customs checks and paperwork that have added red tape and costs for shops and their suppliers since Brexit, making it cheaper and simpler to stock goods from Europe.

Food services: Pubs, restaurants and hotels have struggled to fill vacancies since free movement ended. EU membership would let them recruit seasonal workers from across Europe again and help bring down costs for hospitality businesses across the country.

Sources and methodology

Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2026. Contains NRS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.